RV-8063-C8 Miniature SPI Real-Time Clock (RTC)

Micro Crystal's RV-8063-C8 miniature SPI RTC module, part of the C8 series, is designed for compact lightweight applications, enabling smaller and highly efficient electronic devices. The C8 series is focused on a significant size reduction (50% compared to the C7 series) while maintaining the expected high performance. The C8 series excels in miniaturization, providing a more compact solution for electronic designs. This enables engineers to benefit from a compact form factor while maintaining high-performance standards.

The C8 series features a dedicated CMOS RTC chip and a miniature built-in quartz crystal housed in a compact 2.0 mm x 1.2 mm 8-pin ceramic case. To ensure environmental protection and prevent contamination of the oscillator circuitry, the C8 series employs a vacuum-sealed metal lid. This design feature effectively mitigates frequency shifts and maintains the stability of the oscillator, ensuring a time accuracy of ±20 ppm at +25°C. This integration enables a low-profile design of 0.7 mm, further enhancing its compactness and weight (5.1 mg).

The ultra-low power consumption (190 nA) allows the RTC to function efficiently while minimizing power drain, making it ideal for applications where power efficiency and battery life are critical. The SPI interface allows for flexible configuration and control of the RV-8063-C8. Users can set and adjust various timekeeping parameters such as the date, time, alarms, timer, and 32.768 kHz frequency offset. The RV-8063-C8 provides a range of seven different output clock frequencies to suit different application requirements. It supports alarm functionality with a resolution down to the second level and offers a flexible timer duration range, allowing users to set the timer within a range of 244.14 microseconds to 255 minutes. This configurable timer duration enables users to define specific time intervals for various purposes such as periodic tasks, interval-based measurements, or time-based control operations.

The RV-8063-C8 has optimized dimensions, power efficiency, and an SPI bus interface for better electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) performance. The modules offer a significantly reduced footprint while retaining the high performance of their predecessors, the C7 series. The C8 series is engineered for efficient power usage, making it an ideal choice for applications prioritizing low power consumption. The devices are optimized for high-volume production, making them cost-effective and suitable for applications with budget constraints. The SPI-bus interface provides better noise immunity compared to the I²C, making it suitable in many automotive systems and environments with high levels of electromagnetic interference (EMI) or electrical noise.

By using an RTC with an SPI variant, designers can leverage the existing SPI bus and easily connect multiple SPI devices, streamlining the overall design and reducing complexity. They can take advantage of the fast and efficient data transfer capabilities of the SPI, enabling seamless integration and accurate timekeeping in applications that require smooth coordination with sensors, display modules, Flash memory, DACs, ADCs, data acquisition systems, communication modules, and motor controls.